INEX: moving beyond science fiction
Scientists in the region are leading the way in the development of an innovative solution to neurodegenerative disease and brain injury.
A TEAM at INEX, Newcastle University, is driving forward the ReNaChip project; a challenging programme that will integrate technologies to produce a biomimetic chip, mirroring the natural structure of the brain, which can replace lost brain function.
The collaborative project is supported by the EC Framework 7 programme for future and emerging technologies, and includes academic groups and industrial partners from six European countries. At two-thirds of the way through, the project is approaching a milestone and is making great strides towards achieving its goals.
The ReNaChip platform
Direct communication between the nervous system and artificial devices through a brain computer interface is no longer science fiction; recent advances in technology have led to innovative approaches to restore damaged hearing, sight and movement. The ReNaChip project aims to go further and use biomimetic implants to replace lost brain function, providing a tremendous opportunity to improve the clinical outcome of neurological disorders such as strokes.
The project aims include making a computer model of a well-defined brain pathway as proof of concept for the replacement of more complex brain circuits. Implementation of this model in a microchip will be used to create a biohybrid in which a lost behaviour is restored.
Dr Angela Silmon, who co-ordinates the project from INEX, Newcastle University, says the research could prove ground-breaking, although it will be many years before the research leads to medical applications. She describes how our abilities can deteriorate and how they may be recovered;
“If you hear a noise and then experience a puff of air to your face, you learn to close your eyes when you hear the noise in the absence of that air puff. As you age that learning ability is lost.
“The ultimate aim is to be able to recover the learning response, by integrating technology with the brain. If successful, this type of approach may be able to replace parts of the brain that are damaged following stroke.”
New technologies
To succeed, the project depends upon innovation in a number of component technology areas, promoting advancement not only in medical sciences but many other applications such as microsystems and ICT. Technologies under development include novel micro- and nanoscale recording electrodes, signal processing algorithms, synthetic modelling and hardware implementation of the biological microcircuit pathways in a microchip, and the systems necessary to integrate these into a biohybrid device.
Moving beyond science fiction
Defining the synthetic circuit presents many challenges, not least how to interface a chip with the real-time streams of physiological data derived from the brain to produce a valid response. Several steps towards achieving this have already been made; signal processing algorithms have been identified that show successful detection of the stimuli. A hardware form of the model circuit has been implemented and the results obtained from this first prototype show that the integrated system can learn a well-timed response to the stimuli when presented with the real-time physiological data.
The next stage for the project is a critical one; following promising results in the integration of sub-sets of technologies, in the coming months a large-scale demonstration test is planned in which the project will attempt to integrate the complete system in a biohybrid. These results will put the project firmly on the path to demonstrating the ReNaChip concept and bringing the prospect of clinical therapy one step closer.
:: For more information visit www.renachip.org or contact enquiries@renachip.org . www.inex.org.uk or contact enquiries@inex.org.uk
INEX
ESTABLISHED in 2002 INEX is a microsystems and specialist electronic device contract manufacturer, offering a seamless research, development, prototyping and manufacturing solution, within an ISO9001:2000 certified environment.
From its beginnings in Newcastle University it has developed as a fully commercial, customer-focused organisation that works closely with clients to develop custom processes in high-added-value device manufacturing, generally in niche markets. Its multi-material processing capability is ideal for the integration of MEMS and life sciences; as a result, the medical and life science sector is becoming increasingly important part of INEX’s portfolio.
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